Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Sampler Afghan - Putting It All Together


Designed by Laurinda Reddig of ReCrochetions

By now you should have a large pile of 16 finished squares. Find a clean flat area, and arrange your squares in a pattern that looks good to you. I try to space apart the textured squares so they are not all together. Note: You may have been tempted to start stitching them together along the way, but I realized as I was making up my second sample version, that by stitching together the first 12 squares when they were done, now all 4 of the textured squares have to go on the same row. Ack!

I tried several different means of crocheting and sewing the squares together. Because I alternated colors with the squares, I found the following to be the best looking and smoothest laying means of attaching the squares:

Joining Squares:
Hold 2 squares together wrong sides facing each other (the "wrong side" of each square is the side facing away from you when you put the single crochet edging on each square. Use a large eye yarn needle threaded with a long piece of the yarn you used to make your squares. Working through back loops only, Whip Stitch each square together. At each corner between squares, work a couple extra diagonal stitches between the different squares for extra strength. Weave in all ends.

Notes: To avoid extra ends, I stitched each row continuously, joining on the next 2 squares when I got to the end of the first 2. Once I finished all rows in one direction (top to bottom) I began working in the other (left to right - remember I am left handed, so you might work right to left).

Edging
I have three different suggested stitches for the edging around your finished afghan. Pick one of the stitches below, repeat in each stitch around, join in first stitch with a slst, and finish off.

Row 1: (same for all 3 options) Join yarn in any corner of afghan with a slst, ch 1, sc in each sc around and joinings between squares. Work 3 sc in each corner stitch. Join with slst in 1st sc, ch 1, do not turn.

Row 2:
Option 1 - Slip Stitch (slst)

Insert hook in next stitch, YO, pull out of stitch and through the loop on your hook, repeat around. In each corner work (slst, ch1, slst).

Option 2 - Picot Stitch*Sc in next sc, Ch3, insert hook into 1st ch of ch3, YO, pull out of ch and through 1st loop, sc in next sc; Repeat from * around, working 2 picots in each corner.

Option 3 - Reverse Single Crochet (rsc) - Worked Left to Right (unless you are left handed)
Insert hook into stitch behind your hook, YO, pull out of stitch, YO, pull through both loops on hook; Repeat around, working 3 rsc in each corner. Note: This stitch is a little tricky, but once you get the hang of it this stitch makes a really beautiful twisted cable looking edging.

Try one of these options, if you do not like the way it looks, try another. I am working each of the first 3 blankets in a different edging stitch to see how they look. And I just felt the need to include Picots and Reverse Single Crochets to make a really comprehensive sampler that gives you a chance to try all the basic stitches which come up in common patterns.

1 comment:

  1. I can't believe we made it to the end!! Now to get all caught up with my squares and stitch them together. This has been an awesome project and so inspiring!!

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